Scottish Music (Celtic and Folk Revival)

Folk Revival

By the mid-1960s, many musicians were rediscovering the older Scottish instruments and songs and began to revive them, as well as experiment and mix the genres together. Below are several popular Scottish folk performers.

Corries

Hamish Imlach

Popular in US and Europe in the burgeoning 1960s folk music scene, he combined original songs with traditional Scottish folk tunes. His in-between rants were often more popular than the music itself.

Street Songs

Erin Go Bragh

Billy Connolly

Known primairly as a stand-up comic and actor (Boondock Saints, Head of the Class), he began as a folk singer, including with the Humblebums (see below). Here is a recent recording of his called "I Wish I Was in Glasgow."

Humblebums
Billy Connelly and Gerry Rafferty as a popular folk duo.

Red Hot Chili Pipers

A Scottish ensemble that plays modern songs on traditional instruments.

Clocks by Coldplay done by the the Red Hot Chili Pipers

We Will Rock You by Queen

Clann An Drumma

 From Glasgow, their name means "Children of the Drum." They focus on the more "tribal" aspects of early Scottish music, with lots of drums and pipes. Their music was featured in another Mel Gibson film, We Were Soldiers.

Battlefield Band

A popular Glasgow-based Scottish traditional music band. They have recorded more than 30 albums.

Slainte

This group's name comes from the traditional Scottish toast for "good health".

The Clutha

A Glasgow-based Scottish folk band that formed in the 1970s.

Silly Wizard

A Scottish folk band from Edinburgh that began in 1970.

Tannahill Weavers

Began in 1968 in Paisley, Scotland.

Celtic Music

Often a fusion of different "Celtic" styles (Irish, Scottish, English, Spanish, Middle Eastern), this genre is more a modern interpretation of what is thought to be Celtic. Often has a dreamlike, mystical quality. It is more New Age than historical.

Braveheart soundtrack

The Mel Gibson film soundtrack by James Horner helped popularize the Celtic music scene.Below is the film's main theme.

Celtic Women

This all-female ensemble evolved out of the popular Riverdance phenomenon. Like a lot of modern Celtic music, it is a blending of Scottish and Irish traditions.

Peatbog Faeries

A Celtic fusion band from the Isle of Skye. Mixes traditional music with modern club dance music.

Loreena McKinnett

A Scottish-Canadian, McKinnett mixes Scottish, Irish, Middle Eastern and other traditions together to form a unique sound. Below is a song called "Standing Stones."